Get off the sofa: Walk the Coast to Coast Path part 2

Lucy is continuing her journey on the Coast to Coast path – she walked the first half of the route 25 years ago. Read on to see what great sights she saw when she returned to complete the Coast to Coast Path…

We’ve split Lucy’s journey up into two parts – you can read all about the first part of her journeyhere…

Ingleby Arncliffe to Great Broughton

“Next up on my Coast to Coast walking holiday was a steady climb through Arncliffe woods with frequent views back down the Vale of Mowbray. I soon left the trees behind for the vast open landscape of the North York Moors. The walking was easy underfoot with large paving stones to help conserve both the moor and my feet! The initial part of the day was through a mixture of moorland and woodland, then after the steep but very short climb up to Live Moor, it was moorland for the remainder of the day. I enjoyed walking along the edge of Faceby Bank and Carlton Bank with stunning views across the lowlands to the north before dropping down to Lord Stones, which has an excellent cafe. My journey continued over three small summits, Cringle Moor, the end of Old Moor and then up through the Wain Stones and on to White Hill. Leaving there, it was an easy walk along the tops and down to Clay Bank Top.

Great Broughton to Blakey

Urra Moor was next and I walked up to the high point of Round Hill. I continued on to Bloworth Crossing and saw the old dismantled railway. It’s amazing to think that there was once a railway track up here! The big wide path then contoured around the edge of the moors with fabulous views down into the Farndale valley. The path followed the edge of Farndale Moor and High Blakey Moor before heading round the edge of Blakey Gill with more views of the green pastures in the lowlands.

Blakey to Egton Bridge

Rounding the next section, Blakey Ridge came into view as did the Lion Inn, the fourth highest Inn in England. I enjoyed being high up as I set off along the road from Blakey Ridge. I passed various landmarks such as Young Ralph’s Cross and a massive boundary stone before heading across the moors to Trough House (a picturesque hunting lodge) and was rewarded with great views of Danby High Moor and Seavey Hill.

Having walked across Glaisdale Moor, I saw views that went on for miles all the way down Great Fryup Dale and out to the North Sea and continued in a steady descent off the moors down into the picturesque village of Glaisdale. On leaving Glaisdale the route follows the course of the River Esk and takes you through the lush Arncliffe woods. The afternoon sun was streaming through the trees as I passed through and although the path can be muddy here, the going was good underfoot. Then came the gentle walk down the road and into Egton Bridge.

Egton Bridge to Robin Hood’s Bay

Setting off from Egton Bridge, the walking was easy and I was soon at the village of Grosmont where I waited patiently at the station for one of the steam trains to arrive. The trains and the station are reminiscent of times gone by and it is where many Harry Potter train scenes were filmed. Leaving Grosmont meant that I had a big climb back up onto the moors. Passing over Sleights Moor I could see just how far I’d come. The walk down into Littlebeck was gentle with great views over the North Sea and the remains of Whitby Abbey which could be seen in the distance.

I found the walk through Scarry Wood to be magical. There is an amazing small alum cave that you walk over which is where the shale was extracted and used for tanning leather in industrial times. Further into the woods is The Hermitage, which is a large cave carved into the stone with a perfect circular ledge inside. It dates back to 1759 and is a remarkable piece of craftsmanship. It’s an ideal place to shelter from the weather if necessary. The Coast to Coast then takes you to the pretty waterfall, Foss Falls before bringing you out onto a minor road and more moorland. The moorland can be quite tricky to cross in places but luckily there are frequent marker posts.

After passing through the village of Hawsker and off towards the coast I was eventually greeted with the spectacular cliff tops of the east coast. The final leg is an amazing walk across the cliff tops with spectacular views all the way out to sea. The path brings you round and down into Robin Hood’s Bay, which is a perfect ending to a fabulous walking holiday.

It’s been a great journey steeped in history, farming, culture and ever changing landscapes and I am so glad I’ve finally completed the whole Coast to Coast path.”

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Great Glen Way

The Great Glen Way is the third longest walking route in Scotland. Follow the historic Caledonian Canal and traverse the forests above Loch Ness from Fort William, at the foot of Ben Nevis, to the vibrant city of Inverness, the capital of the highlands. The gentle gradient marks it as a relatively easy walk for beginners to enjoy while the scenery makes it attractive regardless of your ability and fitness levels.

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South Downs Way

This route follows the world-famous Roman Wall for its entire length: Traverse this path from one coast to another, from Wallsend, near Newcastle, to the Solway Firth beyond Carlisle, indulging yourself in the history of the region, as well as some great scenery too.

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South Downs Way

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Hadrian’s Wall

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